RAPID SEPARATION OF MOUSE LYMPHOCYTES-T AND LYMPHOCYTES-B USING WHEAT-GERM AGGLUTININ

A separation procedure has been developed for mouse splenic T and B lymphocytes which is based on their differential agglutination by wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). In the presence of 50‐100 μg/ml of WGA, multicellular aggregates are formed which are enriched in B cells. These aggregates can be separated from monodisperse T cells by gravity sedimentation and subsequently dissociated into single cells by treatment with N‐acetylglucosamine (NAG). Immunocytochemical analyses and mitogenic assays indicate approximately 10‐15% cross contamination of the resultant B and T cell fractions. The separation procedure is not only convenient and rapid but also allows the simultaneous recovery of viable T and B cells from the same spleen preparation. Copyright © 1979 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.